Traveler Alert: British Airways Strikes Back On (Maybe)

The British Court of Appeals overturned a legal block on strikes by flight attendants at British Airways, and the union representing cabin workers said a series of five-day strikes could begin next week if negotiations don’t resolve disputes.

Flight attendants plan to walk off the job beginning Monday and stretch May 24-28, May 30-June 3 and June 5-9. The airline has reduced its schedule in anticipation of strikes and has subcontracted planes and crews ready to provide some service. In all, with its own workers who don’t strike and substitute chartered flights, British Airways expects to transport about 70% of its passengers during walkouts.

After the court ruling, the Unite union said it wouldn’t immediately order workers off the job and instead intended to pursue talks with British Airways management to resolve a bitter dispute over changes to pay and working conditions. British Airways said it was disappointed the union intended to go ahead with “its unjustified and pointless strikes.”